Attachment for machine guns



M. KOVALEFF.

ATTACHMENT FOR MACHINE GUNS.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 4. 1918. RENEWED NOV. 21, 1921.

1,412,287, Patented Apr. 11, 1922 2 SHEETSSHEET amumitoz M. KOVAEEFF.ATTACHMENT FOR MACHINEGUNS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4. 19l8- RENEWED NOV. 21. 1921.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHEET"2.

lvwemtoz 7/Z7W' WM coo MICHAEL KOVALEFF, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR,BY MEsNE AssIeNIvIENTs, TO THE MARLIN FIREARMS CORPORATION, 01 NEWHAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A Goa PORATION OF DELAWARE.

Specification of Iietters Patent.

ATTACHMENT Fort MACHINE GUNS.

Patented Apr. 11, 1922.

Application filed November 4, 1918, Serial No. 261,084. Renewed November21, 1921. Serial No. 516,904.

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be known that I, MICHAEL KovALnFr, a citizen of Russia, and residing atNew dork city, New York County, New York State, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Attachments for Machine uns, of whlch thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements 1n machine guns andparticularly to an attachment for supporting the cartridge beltscommonly employed with such guns and receiving the body of such beltsafter the cartridges have been withdrawn therefrom.

In guns of this character commonly in use the ends of the cartridge beltprojecting from the inlet and outlet openings of the feed box arecommonly completely exposed and this, particularly when the guns aremounted on airplanes, has been found to be objectionable.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple attachmentwhich can be readily connected with or detached from the body of amachine gun and which includes two casings or receptacles adaptedrespectively. to receive the loaded cartridge belt and the fabric orwebbing body of such belt after the cartridges have been withdrawntherefrom by the operation of the gun. The invention provides a verysimple and compact device by which the cartridge belt is practicallycompletely enclosed at all times.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portionof a standard Vickers type of machine gun having an embodiment of theinvention applied thereto; i I

Figure 2 is a horizontal section substantially on the line 22 of Figure3;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on an enlarged scale on thelines 38 of .Fi uresl and 2; and

Figure 4 is a detail. view. In the drawings many of the parts of the gunand mechanism are shown more or less diagrammatically, as it is ;ofcourse evident that the present invention is'not'limited to 'use withany particular type of machine gun.

Referring to'the drawings A designates the relatively stationary body orcasing of the gun, the barrel of which is represented at B. C designatesthe support on which the gun is mounted and from which extendsrearwardly an arm 1) in which is mounted the adjusting screw orelevating means by which the gun may be rocked about the axis 0 on whichit is secured to the support C.

The improved attachment comprises two casings or receptacles E, F, whichare rigidly connected together by a suitable frame or braces G,- G andwhich are separated s'ufiiciently to permit the body A of the gun to bereceived between them.

vAny suitable means may be provided for supporting the containers E, F,from the gun. As shown spring pressed latches H are provided forengaging with suitable sockets formed in the opposite side walls of thegun body-so that when the casings are slipped upwardly over said bodythe latches will, engage therewith and suspend the parts in the relativepositions shown in Figure 3. The box-like support or receiver E for theloaded cartridge belt I is shown as provided with a hinged top E whichwhen the attachment is applied to the gun rests on the top of theordinary feed box K. The belt I is arranged in superposed folds in theordinary manner and is adapted to freely enter the inlet opening of thefeed box and to be intermittently moved therethrough by the action ofthe ordinary feeding devices comprising upper pawls L and lower pawls M.The casing F is provided with an opening in the top which is positionedadjacent the outlet from the feed box so that the belt I can freely passtherein after it leaves said box.

lVithin the casing or receiver F is mounted a spring actuated windingdrum 0 which is providedwith means for engaging the end of the belt Iwhich projects from the outlet of the feed box s'o that asrsaid drum isrotated the belt may be wound thereon. As shown the shaft of the drum isprovided at one end with a crank or handle P to which is connected oneend of the spring Q that is arranged within the drum, the other end ofsaid spring being attached to thedrum body. A pawland ratchet R, S

is provided for enabling the spring to be held under the desired orrequired tension. Thus by rotating the handle P the spring by theordinary feeding device. The spring also acts to aid the feeding of thebelt I, the pull exerted thereby on the belt acting to eliminate thebinding or jamming which often occurs when the pawls alone are used tofeed the belt- The operation and advantages of the attachment will, itis believed, readilybe understood from the foregoing description inconnection with the drawings. It will be seen that the inventionprovides means for completely enclosing the cartridge belt as well assupporting it and it will be evident that after all the cartridges in abelt have been discharged the attachment may be readily withdrawn andanother substituted or the empty belt may be unwound from the drum and anew belt placed in the receptacle E and passed through the feed box inthe ordinary manner.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a machinegun, of means for supporting a. cartridge belt adjacent the mouth of thefeed box of the gun, and a spring actuated drum supported adjacent thefeed box outlet and'adapted to have the cartridge belt connectedthereto, for the purpose described.

2. The combination with a machine gun,

of a support for a cartridge belt adapted to be detachablyconnected'with the gun and to permit the belt to pass freely therefrominto the inlet of the feed box of the gun, and means arranged adjacentthe outlet of the feed box for winding up the belt as it passestherefrom.

The combination with a machine gun, of a container for a cartridge beltsupported by the gun and permitting the belt to move freel therefrominto the feed box of the gun, and a spring drum supported by the gunadjacent the outlet of the feed box and adapted to wind up the body ofthe belt as it passes from said box.

4. The combination with a machine gun and means for intermittentlyfeeding a cartridge belt through'the feed box thereof, of meanssupported on the gun adjacent the outlet of the feed box for winding upthe bolt as it passes from said feed box.

5. The combination with a machine gun,

and means for intermittently feeding a cartridge belt through the feedbox thereof of a winding drum supported onthe gun adjacent the outlet ofthe feed box 7 and adapted to be connected with a cartridge beltprojecting from the feed box.

6. The combination with a'machine gun, and means for intermittentlyfeeding a cartridge belt through the feed box thereof, of a springactuated drum supported, on the gun adjacent the outlet of the feed boxand feeding. direction, to amming,

adapted to be connected with the end of the cartridge belt projectingfrom said outlet.

'7. The combination with a machine gun, and means for intermittentlyfeeding a cartridge bolt through the feed box thereof, of a springactuated drum supported on the gun adjacent the outlet of thefeed boxand adapted to be connected with the end of the cartridge beltprojecting from saidoutlet, and a casing surrounding said drum.

8. The combination with a machine gun, and means for intermittentlyfeeding a cartridge belt through the feed box thereof of a container fora cartridge belt supported by the gun in position to enable the belt topass freely therefrom into the feed box, and a winding drum supported bysaid container and arranged adjacent the outlet from the feed box, saiddrum being adapted to be connected with the end of the cartridgebeltprojecting from the outlet of the feed box.

9. The combination with a machine gun, of two receptacles connectedtogether and adapted to be detachably engaged with the body of the gunso that they are positioned respectivel adjacent the inlet and outletopenings of the feed box thereof, and spring actuated drum arranged inthe casing adjacent the outlet from the feed box and adapted to beengaged with theportion of a cartridge belt projecting from said outlet.

10. The combination with a machine gun, of a box-like container for acartridge belt supported by the gun with its top substantially in theplane of the inlet to the feed box of the gun, and said inletprojectting over the adjacent wall of the container,

' a cover hinged to one side of said container and adapted when open torest on the top of the feed box, and means arranged adjacent the outletfrom the feed box for re ceiving the cartridge belt as it passes fromsaid outlet.

11. The combination witha machine gun,"

of means to feed a cartridge belt therethrough including a deviceconstantly exerting a pull on the belt and mechanism to intermittentlypush the belt forward.

12. The combination with a machine gun having means to intermittentlypush a cartridge belt through the same, of means constantly exerting apull on the belt in the thereby eliminate 13. The combination with amachine gun having means to intermittently push a cartridge belt throughthe same, of a spring constantly exerting pull on the belt in thefeeding direction, to thereby eliminate amming. V t V In testimonywhere'ofI afiix my signature.

MICHAEL .KovAnE r;

